Golf-tee retriever



Dec. 30, 1930.. w. D. SMITH GOLF TEE RETRIEVER Filed April 15, 1929 Patented Dec. 30, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WALLACE 1). SMITH, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT GOLF-TEE BETRIEVER Application filed April 15, 1929. Serial No. 355,133.

My invention relates to improvements in golf tee retrievers and the combination therewith of a tee of novel form made of a piece of wire and securely fastened to the flat tape- 5 like flexible element of the retriever, and the object of my improvement is to produce a retriever structure thatis provided with a ratchet and pawl checking mechanism that automatically checks return winding of the 19 flexible element after a lengththereof has been withdrawn from the casing; that has button-operated release means for said checking mechanism; that has holding means for the casing that cooperate with the shoe and 15 the foot for supporting the retriever; and in which combination the tee besides having a seat for theball and a stem is provided with a loop or the like for receiving the free end of the flexible element.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved golf tee retriever combination, the retriever being shown-in position on a shoe, and the arms on the casing that are positioned for support between the foot and the side wings or flaps of the shoe indicated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the retriever through the middle thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom face view of the retriever, with the casing bottom removed.

Figure 4 is a top view of the retriever, with part of the top wall broken away so as to expose parts of the spring, drum, and flexible;

element.

Figure 5 shows part of a shoe as in Fig. l. and indicating by broken lines the outline of the casing for the retriever and the supporting arms of the clip structure Figure 6 is a side view of the wire-formed tee.

My improved golf tee retriever comprises as the operating elements a flexible member 10 that is connected by'its free end with the tee 11, a casing 12 in. which is housed the mechanism for withdrawing the major portion of said flexible member 10 Within itself involving a coil spring 13 and a drum 14 and a ratchet device for checking the operation of i" said spring; and a button or trigger 15.

The elements of the operating mechanism enumerated correspond substantially in their arrangement and operation to devices that are in the form of tape measures with spring operated mechanism and casings, but no tape measure device or structure known to me will suflice or is adapted for use as a tee retriever and operate satisfactorily or reliably for sev eral reasons.

For instance, the work for the spring in such a tape measure device is confined to withdrawing and winding the tape, which corresponds to the flexible member in the present structure whereas in the retriever there is the tee to be carried.

Not only is the weight of the tee a factor that is appreciable as an ordinary 'proposition, but the action in retrieving is most satisfactory when the coiling upon pressing the button is exceptionally quick and so as to be suggestive of instantaneous action.

To meet this last named condition an exceptionally powerful spring 16 is provided.

The inner end 17 of said spring 16 is connected to some part of a barrel structure 18 at the middle of the casing 12 and that serves as a guide-housing for the cylindrical body portion 19 of the structure of the button 15.

The outer end20 of the spring 16 is connected to the tape-supporting cylindrical wall 21 of the drum 14:.

The ratchet teeth 22 are provided on the disc-like rear or bottom wall 23 of the drum 14c and these cooperate with a pair of arms that serve as pawls and are provided on the structure of the button 15. Said button 15 is backed by diminutive coil spring The body portion 19 supports the pawl arms 24 at the bottom end. and at the top end merges with the rounded contact end 26. Said contact end 26' is exposed and accessible through an opening 27 in the top wall 28 of the casing 12.

The supporting means for the casing 12 comprises a clip structure 29 that is mounted securely upon the outer face of the bottom wall 30, preferably at the center thereof, and is provided with a pair of supporting arms 31 of appreciable length that extend outwardly,

in diamet'ral alignment from the central hub 1 stantially to the thickness of the leather of the side Wings 35 of a shoe. 36 and the thickness of the junction structure or hub 33 is suchas to be admitted freely and in many 5 of metal on cases: to fit snugly, between the opposed edges 37 of said Wings after the shoe has been secured on the foot by means of the lacings 38. a The structure described permits of utilizing the shoe lacings in cooperation With the foot for holding the casing 12 in place suitable for use in cooperation'vvith the tee 11.

Thus vmeans are provided, for retrieving the tee by the use of a golf-club as the trigger or button operating. device. The casing 12 is made so as to permit of such use.

Arr important element in facilitating efficient operation isthat of the flexible element 10, which in the PISSGHtdRStElllCQ is in the form of a flat strip that emerges from the casing 12 through a narrow slot, after the manner of tape measures mentioned.

The mater al of the flexible member or Qtape. structure 16jis of. substantial quality, of

special fabric and treated to stand exposure tothe elements. e V l In use, the tape is pulled from the casing to the desired amount With a; little extra for slack While the tee is in position for use and after use the tee is pulled to the side of the casing 12 by pressing the button in any man ner that may be convenient,

The use, of a flexible connecting member 10 in the form of a tape that emerges from the casing through a n'arrow'slot 39' and that W nds on the drum compactly in layers 1S believed to be new in a golftee retriever.

The free end ofthe'flexible member 10 is secured to the tee 11 inany manner s0 as to provide a relatively pos tive and reliable v connection so that the tee Will be released from its position in the ground if necessary 2111(1111 all cases will be moved with the shoe to which it is connected. This condition permits of theintroduction of another'dee sired improvement, involving the material used for thetee itself, Which the use of metal. p i i 1 There is valid objectionto the use of tees course that is gone over by a grass cutteruofany kindg as is usual, when h r s s e ecl ia itypr babi y that an appreciable percentage thereof Will be left on the course and in the path of the cutter. j 1 c v In the tee 111 have provided a form of ru tu e hat rcom s h bject on in ombi n wi l he r t ie -as scr d- The-said tee ll ismade of ra singl-e piece of Wire- Qne end portion of said Wire is bent o f rm he upre n d rertQ' of the tee stru ur whi h 15 e the arm eta circ l position these parts.

shown, to form a 'terminal loop 44 to Which the free end of the tape 10, may be positively secured in any Way that Will provide a good connection.

l -he intermediate, portion 42 of the Wire merges With the upper seat part 40 and the lower stem part 41 and is bent to properly I I claim as" my invention p v A golf tee retriever combinationcomprisinga casing having. atop Wall that is provided With'ari opening, a button exposed through said opening, a flezgible element emerging from said casing and having the free, end adapted to be connected to atee, Winding mechanism for said flexible element connected to the other end thereof, ratchet elements for checking said Winding mechanism subject to be released by pressing said button, means, for supporting said casing upon the upper portionof the body of a shoe so as to. position said button in convenient position for pressingby means of a golfclub,v and said last namedme ans being in the form of a clip structure having arms that are directed along a diameter-for being positioned under the Wingsof a lace-shoe and held in place by thelacings.

"WALLACE n. s irnl 

